Accrington Stanley gets world famous fan

Jesse McClure, star of US TV show Storage Hunters, became the latest Reds convert after meeting manager James Beattie at the opening of Stanley sponsor Store First’s latest self-storage centre in Preston.

Accrington Stanley’s season came to a successful end in more ways than one after picking up a world famous fan.

Jesse McClure, star of US TV show Storage Hunters, became the latest Reds convert after meeting manager James Beattie at the opening of Stanley sponsor Store First’s latest self-storage centre in Preston.

James and Jesse, who were both invited to officially open the new centre, immediately hit it off – and the Californian storage star was delighted to be presented with an Accrington Stanley shirt from the manager himself.

He was so impressed with his newfound football allegiance that he also pledged to wear the shirt for an appearance on Sky Sports weekend football programme Soccer AM.

Jesse appeared on the show alongside legendary Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who was name-checked in the famous 1980s Milk Marketing Board advert which gave birth to the unforgettable catchphrase “Accrington Stanley, who are they?”

Clued up on the history of his new favourite club, Jesse jokingly tweeted on the morning of the show: “Guess who has their signed @1jamesbeattie @Store_First1 @ASFCOfficial shirt for @SoccerAM today? #ihatemilk”

The TV star, whose show Storage Hunters airs on the Dave channel in the UK, posed for a picture with Ian Rush sipping on a glass of milk as a nod to the famous ad.

Jesse’s footballing loyalties are now shared between Stanley and Premier League side Stoke, after he visited the city as part of a promotional tour across the UK.

Beattie is now planning to invite Jesse and his wife Ashley to come and watch a Stanley game at the Store First Stadium next season.